Tail gate for dumping bodies



A. s. HUGHES TAILGATE FOR DUMHNG pnms Filed Oct. l2s, 1922 e sheets-sheet 1 nunnnnummumn June 8 1926.

A s. HUGHES .TAIL GATE FOR DUMPING BODIES Flef OC- 25. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 all q" Arthur s. Hughes INVENTOR ,wrrNEssEg June 8 1926. l A. s. HUGHES TAI L GATE FOR DUMPING BQDIESA 6 Sheets- Sheet Fild OCT.. 25, 1922 llhlul' A June8,192s. 1,588,110

' A. S. HUGHES TAIL GATE PoR DMPING BODIES Filed Oct. 23, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 56s/ y 6a]- thur's. Hughes 'V'EmV A. S. HUGHES TAIL GATE FOR DUMPING BODIES 6 Sheets-sheet s Filed Oct. 23. 1922 ATTDINIY glie/L3M June 8 1926.

A. S. HUGHES TAIL GATE FOR DUMPING BODIES Filed Oct. 23, 1922 6 Shees-Sheei-v 6 y wlw-asses ATTQR N EY @afw- Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR SHERIDAN HUGHEs, or MANSFIELD, (i1-11o..y

TAIL GATE .FOB D UMPING BODIES.'k i

i Application led October 23, 1922 Serial No. 596,348.V

Thisinvention relates to improvements kin the bodies of dumping Wagons Ol' trucks,

' and particularly tothe tail or rear gates thereof,

An object of the invention is. to provide a tail gate which can be held in a variety of positions, so that dumpingof the load may be controlled as desired. 1

Other.. objects are to provide a` pivot mounting for tail gates which permits easily assemblingk of the gate and' bodyi which is economical to manufacture, and Which operates with facility.

The invention has otherl aims which will appear from the following detailed description of certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings forming-a part of this specification. i y

I n the drawings: i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of awagon or truck body provided With one form of my improved tail gate, showing the gate closed and locked; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the gate swung above the Wagon body;

Figure 3 is a similar view sho-Wing the gate open and held in the plane of the bottom of 4the Wagon body;

vFigure 4 is an end elevation of the Wagon body showing the gate closed;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the rear end of the Wagonbody with the gate closed;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-,6 of Fig. 5

Figure 7 is a perspective view of .one of the swinging side or hanger bars used to support the tail gate on the body;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are sidey elevations of a modiiied constructionl showing `the tail gate in three different positions;

Figure 11 is a rear end elevation of the same form as Figures 8, 9 and 10, showing the gate closed, parts being broken away;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the construction of Figures Sto 11, with the gate Closed; f

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are fragmentary views respectively in end elevation, plan` and side elevation, of another construction embodying the invention;

\ Figures l16 and 17 are respectively side andy end elevations of a fragmentary character,

showing another modification; and t V-lfgfureziy 1B and; 19 are, views similar yof bar 23. `or hanger bars 23 taper as seen' in Fig-.17,

l. spectivelyto Figures and 17, but shoiving still another modiiied form. `Which the in.- vention may take. l

Referring more specifically to the preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the drawing merely by Way of example, and first particularly to theforin illust-.rated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, there is shown the rear portion of a steel Wagon or truck body 20, whose particular construction need not be described,y since it does not. lenter into the invention. i At the rearl end ofbody 2O yand on the top edges thereof, tivo hinge members 21 are` se- Tail` gate supportmg means 1n the cured. form of hanger bars 23 are pivotally connected to hinge members 21 in any preferred manner, for example, as shown in Figs, 5

ande A bolt 22 is secured by screw threads to each member 21, and is passedthrough the 1 swinging. side bar 23,*shovvn separately in Fig. 7. A bushing 22?' is revoluble on the unthreaded partv of bolt 22, as shoWlfLy and ts y a perforation 23a near one end of barv The necessary Washers and nuts are also A used.; The connection is such that eaQll-Side or hanger bar 23may swlngfreel-y 1n a vertical plane on vthe outside of body 2OI Without he side bars-23 each have a` lo'ngitudinally extendmgcontlnuous strengtheningA iiange 23h preferably bent at right angles as shown in Figure 7 and nearthe end lWhere perforations 28a are provided, the side bars 23 are slotted, as atfQi, said slots 24 preferably extending through the longitudinal flange and about half Way across the Width Itis preferred that the side from the slotted end to the opposite end, near Whicha bore or perforation 25 is provided for a purpose to be explained. -A plate 26 maybe secured to each sidebar 23 adjacent perforation 23a and have a matchingperforation 26a through whichbolt 22 is passed. The plates 26 lprovide the additional thickness desirable Where the side bars pivot on the bolts 22, and increase the strength of the hinge connectie/11. A stra 27 having a hook point 281s joined to eac platei or else the hook 28 may. integralr to V which will be clear from Figures 3, 4 andv 5, is usually rectangular, as shown, with a `strengthening flange bordering its perimeter. Hinge pintles-30 aresecured at the opposite lower corners of gate 29, and project outwardly so as to be engageable in the perforations 25 of the side bars. By these, or

similar means, the gate 29 is hinged to andv between the two bars 23, which in turn are pivotally connected at their opposite or upper ends with the wagon body as before explained. Thus a double hinge mounting for the tail gate is provided.

At opposite ends at the top the gate 29 has bars'or projections 3l projecting` therefrom, Asaid bars passing through slots 24 in the side bars 23 whenthe gate is swung o n pintles 30 from the position ot Fig. 3 to that of Fig. l. In order to lock the gate after bars 3l are received within the slots, a. chain or chains 38 each having a. pin 39 on one end, are attached in any convenient manner to Agate 29, and peritorat-ions in bars 3l are provided to receive the pins 39, which preferably have bent upper ends to rest on the top edges of side bars 23, as shown in Figure l. Obviously the longitudinal flanges of side bars 23 prevent outward swinging of the gate on itspintles 30 when the pins 39 are passed through bars 31. The chain or chains 37 secured at one end to gate 29 may be detachably engaged with hooks 28 to hold the` gate horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be clear that the side or hanger bars 23 are swingable about bolts 22 as pivots when the gate 29 is locked as by pins39. To prevent swinging ot side bars 23, which would necessarily entail swinging of the gate, some locking means must be provided. One 'forni of locking means is shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, and comprises a latch v32 having a notch 33 into which pintle or pin 30 is received. The latch 32 is pivoted on the body 20, and is operated'by a link 34, pivotally connected thereto and to an operating lever 35 swingably carried upon the body. On the other side of the body, a latch 32"L is mounted, and a transverse rod 36, shown in'Fig. 4, mounts ioth latches so that they are swung simultaneously into or out of latching position. Fig. 2 shows the latches disengaged from pintles 30, while Figs. l and 3 show the side bars locked by the latches. y

The different positions int-o which the above-described gate may be put tor various purposes will now be made plain. When the latching pins 39 and latches 32, 32a are active, the gate, as shown in Figure l, is held shut, so that no part of the load can ployed to hold the gate 29 in extended position. lith the gate `so held, the wagon body may be tilted for dumping purposes, whereupon the gatey acts asa chute for the material being unloaded. lFinally the gate may be allowed to hang pendently from the pivots 30 by disengaging" chains 37 from hooks 33.

The entire gate structure is readily dis-"i assembled; it is only necessary to loosen the two bolts 22 and release latches 32, 32'd in order to remove the gate; and the assembling operation is equally simple.

ln Figs. 3 to l2 inclusive, I have shown another form which my invention may assume. rlhe truck or wagon body 20a, while shown as of a construction different from body 20, needs no particular description in this specification. Near the rear end and on the upper edges the body 20a carries hinge members 40, similar to members 2l. Upon these hinge members two sideE bars or hangers 42 are swingably mounted, asr by bolts 4l, the mounting being preferably similar to the construction of F ig.l 6. The side bars 42 thus swing in vertical planes about bolts l41- as pivots. A rod 43 connects the side bars 42 so that their swing is simultaneous, and in conjunction with bars 42 provides a gate supporting frame. When this frame is in its upper-most position shown in Fig. 9, the rod 43 rests on the upper edges oit body 20a, and the gate is vertical. The rod 43 may also be grasped by the operator to swing the gate outwardly after unlatchii'ig to permit dumping or discharge of the load.

The two bars or hangers 42 are exactly alike, and therefore a description ot one will sniiice. l prefer, inthis en'ibodiment of the invention, to shape bar 42 like the letter L, with unequal legs, and to secure rod 43 at one of its ends to the short leg` of the side bar near the anglethereof. The side bar 42 has a perforation 44 also provided near the angle but in the long leg, the purpose ol which will be explained later. Toward the extremity oit the longer leg ot the side bar a pin 45 is secured for 'the purpose of providing a member with which a latch 52 may engage, as shown in Figs. 8 and l0.` rlhe reeend of each side bar 42 is perforated to receive a pintle 47 provided on one end of tail gate 46, .wherevby Vthe gate 46 may Swing between sidebars 42. .The construction of the gatey itself'will f means including fa latch48 operable by a Preferably handle 49 is a thumb screw made more secure, and

hand-le 49:(Fig. 11) and havinga reduced end or bolt 50 which may be' passed through a hole provided in 4the side flange and through perforation `44 iln the side bar.

winch-'projects through a. slot 49"L in the upper edge of' the gate, and ywhich may be 'screwed' down against said gatel edge whereby thev latch is held securely, either inactive or inactive. position, and without rattling; 'l

As shown'in Fig. 10, the gate 46 isV provided with a chain S51 alsov attached to the wagon body to holdth'e gatey in the' plane of thepbottom of the body after the gate is unlatche'd from the sidel bars. To. hold the side bars fast-'againstfthe end of the body,

I employ latchesxQ mounted on opposite `sides ofthe body adjacent the rear end and having slots 53 for receiving pins 45.`

The latches 5 2 lare pivotal'ly connected with links 54 operated by handles 55 swingably mounted `in hinge elements 56 at the forward end fof the body. By yreleasing latches 52,V the side barsgmayjswing from 'the top onf bolts 41 as pivots j vand-"by releas- 'ing latches 48,1 the gate maybe swung relative toV theside bars on pivots'47v.k Thi'isgthe gate 46 of Figures to 12 may be swung land maintained in the'same positions which gate 29 may assume. d l 1 It will'be clear'kfromthe foregoing that the construction ofV Figures 1 to 7' inclusive differs from the construction of Figures 8 to- 12 inclusive only'v in minor details; the same principles nnderl-ie'both forms of the invention.A `fy AnotherV form which the'invention "may take is shown in Figs. 13,14 Aand 15'.. The body 201 mounts two side bars or hangers 6() (but Ione is `shown).by a hinge connection 61y similar' to those already described. A' tailgate 62 is pivoted as at 63'to the side bars at their lower ends. The' bars60 have latch pins 64 adapted to been-gaged by latches 65v operable by any 'suitable mechanism,. for example, the ones vdescribed above. The upper `or free end of gate l62 maybe locked tothe side bars fby latches 66 similar to latches48. r`Near the upper end on each side thegate has an angle plate 67 riveted or [otherwise lsecured thereto, which bends about the bar 60,` (as shown best in' Fig. 14 f when thev gate is' closed,k whereby the union of thefbars and -gate is rattling and vibration of the connected parts is minimized.

said perforation.

l"ig. ,.15 `,shows how thev gate willA maintain .a Yvertical position whenl latches have been released from .pins -64ja1`rd the wagon vbody 201 .hasbeen tilted for dumping.

In Figs.v 16v and 17 the body 20,1 mounts side bars-60 and 4latches 65, asbefore. .The gate 62 has an angle plate 68 lsecured thereto at veach end and each angle plateexten'ds about the outer side p of `the adjacent side bar 60, as shown.v lIn order to latch the gate to thepside bars, a perforati'onis provided in each side bar near theupper end,

and through said' perforation` and la like `perforation provided. inangle plate 68 at the proper point, a pin- 69 ispassed. Preferably there are two pins 69' employed', and

Aa chain 70 maybe used. to hold` each pin to theg'ate, preventing loss;`

`Still another form of' means for lock-ing the tail gate' to the 'side bars' shownin Figs. 18'and 19. .Each bar 60 mounts a pin 71 which projects outwardly fromthe bar. A channel plate 72 ishinged as' at 73 on bar 60v and is perforated so that when swung flat against bar 60 the pi-n 71 enters When' a Cotter' pin74 is passed through a hole in the pin, thel chanw-herein the flanges of the chan-nel pla-te,-or at least `the `rear flange, engages the tail gate vto prevent outward swinging thereof.

"nel plate is held in vthe position of Fig. '18

Thechannelplate is show'nfin gate-releasing position inl dotted lines, ,119'. v d

Whilel have shown and'. describedy various vforms which my invention may take,

allare merely illustrative, not restrictive;v andf'ma-ny changes involving omission, .alter-ation, substitution orreversal of.k parts may be resorted to without d''ejgiarting from my-invention, whichis best defined in the ollowingclaims. A y

What is claimed is n y Y 1; In combination with a vehicle body, a tail gate, fixed pivot pins extending laterally 'from the lower end ofsa'id gate, barsarranged vertically kat the opposite ends of the gatev and extending aboveand below the same' and' receiving said pivot pins at their lowerL ends yso that the bars and the gate are the upper ends of the bars directly to the top of the body inv advance of' the "rear end ofthe latter, permitting the bars with the gate to swing-in ,connected relation over the top of the body, meansffo'r detachably connectingthe upper end of said gate to said bars below the said pivotingmeans, whereby when the detachable con-ncctifon'is re-` leased, the tail gate ispermitted to swing outward-ly onsaid pivot pins away' from the upper ends of the bars, the latter main'-` taining their connected relationwith the gate at the bottom, and a latching mechanismv carried by the body and engaging said pivot pins' outside said bars, said latching connected, meansfor pivotallyL connecting .115 f mechanism being capable of disconnectionl ally from the lower end of the gate, bars ar-y ranged vertically at the opposite ends of the gate and extending above and below the same and receiving` said pivotpins at their lower ends so that the bars and the gate are connected, means for pivotally connecting the upper ends of said bars directly to the body in advance of the rear end independently of said gate so that the gate and the bars may be swung over the top of the body, means for detachably connecting the upper end of said gate to said bars below the said pivotal connecting means, whereby when said detac-hable connecting means is disengaged, the gate may-swing outwardly on the pivot pins away from said bars, the latter maintaining their connected relation with the gate yat the bottom and their ver- .ticaly position at the ends of the body, and

a latching mechanism carried by the body, said latching mechanism when released permitting thel gate rand bars to swing as a unit from the pivotal means at the top of .said bars, and when the detachable connectends of said-bars is out or' engagement the gate swinging downwardly on said pivots to open position, said la-tching mechanismcooperating to hold the gate both inr open and 1n closed positions.-

3. In combination with a vehicle body. a tail gate, Xed pivot pins extending lat-l erally from the lower end of said gate, bars arranged vertically at .the opposite ends oi' the gate and extending above the gate and yreceiving said pivot pins at their l lower ends so that the bars and the gate are connected to move together, means )torr pivotally connecting the upper ends of the barsv directly to the top of the body in advance of the rear end of the latter, permitting the bars with the gate to swing in connected reelation over the top of the body and be supported, means ior detachably connecting the upper portion of said gate to said bars be` low the said pivoting means, whereby when said .detachable connection is released the gate is permitted to swing outwardly on said pivot pins away from the upper ends oi said bars, the latter maintaining their 'coning means between the gate and the upper end of the body, said bars being mounted to y swing in vertical planes, slots in said bars near their upper and hinged ends, a gate pivoted to said bars near their lower ends,

and means on the gate adapted to enter said 1tlots to facilitate locking of the gate to the ars.

pair of pivotally mounted side bars at one end of the body, said bars being mounted to swing in vertical planes, slots in said bars near their upper and hinged ends, a gate pivoted to said bars near their lower ends, and projections on thegate adapted to enter said slots, said gate projections hav ing perforations whereby a pin may be ypassed into each projection and lock the' gate to the side bars when the gate has been swung into'such position that its projections enter said slots.` y f 6. In combination with ya vehicle body, a

ypair kof pivotally mounted side barsj at one end of the body to swing from their upper lends in substantially verticall planes, each longitudinal flange of the side bars to lock the gate to the side bars.' n 7. A bar for supporting one end of a ywagon tail gate, said bar being angularin cross section whereby a longitudinal flangek is provided, and tapering'from end to end, said bar having a slot near its larger end traversing the flange and extending part way across the width of the bar, and also having a perforation at the same end for re ceiving a pivotal element by which -it is sc cured to the wagon body. n y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 'as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

ARTHUR SI-IERIDAN HUGHES.

5. In combination with a vehicle body, a i 

